Shoe carriage spindles



March 1967 R. c. SIMMONDS, JR 3,308,495

SHOE CARRIAGE SPINDLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1964 In ven torRobert C Sz'mmands, J By his Attorney vfjff 74 2 Maid! 1967 R. c.SIMMONDS, JR 330 SHOE CARRIAGE SPINDLES Filed Nov. 9, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 2 March 14, 1967 I R. c. SIMMONDS, JR fi flSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ES v. 9/1964 3 Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent3,308,495 SHOE CARRHAGE SPINDLES Robert C. Simmonds, Jr., Topsfield,Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., acorporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,919 Claims.(Cl. 12127) This invention relates to machinery for manufacturingfootwear and, more particularly, to a mechanism for securely retaining alast on a last carriage while the shoe on the last is undergoing amanufacturing operation. More specifically, the invention pertains to aspindle which exercises a strong holding force on a last which is fittedupon it.

The invention is herein illustrated in its application to machines forautomatically roughing the marginal portions of a lasted upper, of thetype disclosed in United States patent application Serial No. 352,009,filed March 16, 1964, upon application of Robert C. Simmonds, Jr, et al.While the invention is particularly applicable to the machine disclosedin the above-mentioned patent application, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in scope to machines of this type, but isapplicable generally to shoe manufacturing machines performingoperations upon partially fabricated shoes on lasts.

The above-mentioned automatic roughing machine has a drum mounting anddriving mechanism which simultaneously produces rotational,reciprocating and rocking movements of an abrading drum. A shoe on alast is automatically moved horizontally below the abrading drum. Thedrum engages the bottom contour of the moving shoe, being guided bygauge means touching the shoe bottom. The abrading drum, in rotatingabout a horizontal axis, reciprocating along that axis, and rockingabout an axis normal to that about which it rotates, imparts to theentire lasted margin an efficient and uniform roughening.

The last is supported in its travel to and from the drum, and during theroughing operation of the drum, uponv a shoe carriage. The shoe carriagereceives a partially fabricated shoe upon a last and transports the shoeinto engagement with the abrading drum. The shoe carriage has heretoforeincluded a support pin and a toe rest. The support pin heretoforecomprised a solid metal upright post receivable in the thimble of thelast. The toe rest is movable vertically to tilt the last upon thesupport pin to wedge the pin in the thimble and cause the last to beretained upon the carriage.

While the above arrangement proved satisfactory with most lasts, itfailed to exercise the desired holding power with some lasts because ofthe varied dimensions found in the last thimbles. Experience has shownthat lasts produced by diflFerent manufactures are not always uniform inthe inside thimble diameter dimension. Thus, while the cocking movementof the toe rest caused a tight wedging of the support pin in one last,it might eflect a much less secure wedging operation with another last.In the latter case, the last would be inclined to wobble when in contactwith the abrading drum, thereby greatly diminishing the accuracy of theroughing operation, or, at worst, ruining the shoe.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a meansfor securely holding lasts having various thimble dimensions on a shoecarriage which submits the shoe to a shoemaking operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spindlewhich, when having a last placed and tilted thereon, will grip theinside of the last thimble to securely hold the last and prevent itsmoving relative to the spindle when undergoing a shoe manufacturingoperation.

With the above and other objects in view, the present inventioncontemplates the provision, in a shoemaking machine, of a spindle havingelements which protrude from the spindle to grip the interior walls of alast thimble. The spindle is characterized by pressure applying elementswhich respond to the cocking motion imparted to the last by the toe restto move outwards from the spindle and forcibly engage the thimble walls.The spindle exercises holding power and prevents undesired wobbling ofthe last during the shoe manufacturing operation. At the completion ofthe travel of the carriage, when the toe rest uncocks the last, theelements of the spindle retr-act back into the spindle, permitting thelast to be easily removed from the shoe carriage.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particularmachine embodying the invention is referred to by way of illustrationonly and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles andfeatures of this invention may be employed in varied and numerousautomatic shoe manufacturing operations without departing from the scopeof the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a shoe carriage, showing in phantom thecocked position of the shoe and portions of the carriage;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the heel area of the shoe with aportion of the heel broken away to show the spindle in elevation and theshoe last thimble in section;

FIG. 3 is an elevational View similar to FIG. 2 but showing the shoe inthe cocked position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper end of the spindle;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIVI of FIG.3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIIVH of FIG.3;

FIGS. 8 through 10 are sectional views similar to FIGS. 5 through 7,respectively, but showing an alternative embodiment; and

FIGS. 11 through 13 are sectional views similar to FIGS. 5 through 7,respectively, but showing another alternative embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a shoe carriage 2 of the typedisclosed in the above-mentioned patent application. Its purpose is toreceive a partially fabricated shoe S upon a last L and transport theshoe into engagement with an abrading drum or other shoemakinginstrumentality. The shoe carriage is movable toward and away from saidinstrumentality upon rods 4, 6 (the rod 4 being broken away in FIG. 1for greater clarity). For the purpose of supporting the carriage uponthe rods there are slidably disposed upon the rods 4, 6 carriage platesupport blocks 8, having low friction sleeves 10, to which is secured byscrews 12 a centrally apertured carriage plate 14, broken away in FIG. 1for clarity. Attached to the carriage plate 14 by screws 16 areupstanding irregularly shaped support blocks 18 (one of which is shownin FIG. 1) having lugs 20 which receive bolts 22. Pivotally mounted uponthe bolts 22 are ends of support arms 24. Lock nuts 26 secure the bolts22. The other ends of the support arms 24 are pivotally mounted uponbolts 28 received in a support 30. A spindle 32 is mounted upon thesupport 30 for receiving the last L with the shoe S thereon, the last Lhaving a thimble T (FIGS. 2 and 3) which accepts the spindle 32.

'sense truly chordal.

Means for varying the elevation of the support 30 and hence the last Lby means of a rod 34 (FIG. 1) is fully explained in the referencedpatent application, as is the means for moving the carriage to and fromthe shoemaking instrumentality.

A toe rest, generally designated 36, is provided for supporting the toeportion of the lasted shoe and for cocking the last upon the spindle 32.The position of the toe rest 36 is adjustable lengthwise of the last. Tothis end the support 30 receives a slide rod portion 38 of the toe rest36. The slide rod portion 38 is retained in place by a winged set screw40. A cylinder mounting portion 42 of the toe rest 36 extends upward andat right angles to the slide rod portion 38. A toe rest piston 44 isslidably disposed in the cylinder mounting portion 42. Fixed to theupper end of the toe rest piston 44 is a toe pad block 46 having mountedthereon a toe pad 48 of resilient material for supporting the toe of ashoe to be operated upon. Pressurized air is supplied to the cylinderthrough the mounting portion 42 by a line 50 from a source not shown.

Referring to FIGS. 2-7, there is shown in detail the spindle 32 on whichthe last L is placed and cocked. The spindle 32 comprisesa pin 52 havingmounted thereon pressure applying members in the form of chordalelements 54, 56, 58, 60, (best seen in FIGS. 4-7) and resilient rings 62and 64. As may be seen in FIG. 4, the pin 52 includesrrecesses 68 shapedto accommodate the chordal elements. The recesses 68 in pin 52 areprovided with biased wall portions or cam surfaces 69 against which areurged the straight line sides of the chordal elements. The cam surfaces69 are shorter than the straight line sides of the chordal elements andare each disposed at an acute angle a (FIGS. 5-7) to the heel-toe axisAA of the spindle. The pin 52 and chordal elements 54-60 have grooves 66for receiving the resilient rings, each of which extends around the pinand two chordal elements.

When air is admitted through the line 50 (FIG. 1) into the cylindermounting portion 42, the toe rest piston 44 is urged upward, changingthe shoe from position P to position P (FIG. 1). When this is done thewalls of the thimble T push against the chord-a1 elements 54, 56 nearthe top of the spindle 32 (FIGS. 3 and 6) in a heelward direction alongthe heel-toe axis A-A, and the elements 58, 60 near the bottom of thespindle (FIGS. 3 and 7) in the diametrically opposite direction, ortoeward, along the heel-toe axis AA. The straight line sides of thechordal elements slide against the cam surfaces 69. The result is tocause the chordal elements to move outwards from the pin 52, themovement of the elements exerting a force having a vector substantiallynormal to the heel-toe axis. The rings 62, 64, readily deform so as toallow the chordal elements to expan against the walls of the thimblegenerally laterally of the direction of applied force. In practice, thechordal elements exert a forceful influence upon the last, eliminatingtendencies toward unwanted movements during roughing operations.

It will be appreciated that the cam surface 69 need not necessarily be aplane surface, but may, for example, be concave, as is illustrated inFIGS. 11 through 13 and designated 169. The inward surfaces of thepressure applying elements 154 and 156 would, in such a case, be convexin shape rather than plane surfaces. It is intended that the termchordal element include shapes, as shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, whichare not in a mathematical The operation of the chordal elements 154 and156 is substantially the same as the operation above described for thechordal elements of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 8 through 10, there will be seen still anotherembodiment in which pressure applying elements 254 and 256 pivot aboutpivot pins 255 and 257 rather than slide against cam surfaces. Theresult, again,

is the exertion of a force generally laterally of the direction ofapplied force against the walls of the thimble. Inasmuch as the pressureapplying elements 254, 256 are secured to the assembly by their beingmounted on pivot pins 255, 257, the annular ring found in the otherembodiments may be replaced by a spring 258 which holds the pressureapplying elements in a non-binding position until acted upon by thethimble T of the last L.

When the last is uncooked the resilient rings return to their normalannular configuration, in effect pulling in the extended elements andpermitting the last to be easily removed from the spindle. In theembodiment utilizing pivoted pressure applying elements the spring 258which interconnects each pair of elements causes the elements to moveback to a non-binding position penmitting the last to be easily removed.

It may be noted that the last is presented to the carriage by simplylowering an upside-down last onto the spindle. Thus, the presentinvention is ideal for incorporation in an automatic assembl I linehaving a means to drop a last onto the spindle and means for picking upthe last from the spindle at the completion of an operative cycle. As isevident from the foregoing description, after completion of a cycle thelast merely rests by gravity upon the spindle. Thus, any apparatus forinserting and removing of the lasts could be of relatively simpledesign.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a rigid pin having a freeend and lateral recesses spaced from said free end, movable pressureapplying elements disposed in the recesses, and means mounting saidelements for movement laterally outwardly from the recesses uponpressure being applied to said elements in a direction different fromthat in which they move outwardly.

2. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a rigid pin having a freeend and lateral recesses spaced from said free end, cam surfaces in therecesses, and pressure applying elements disposed in the recesses, eachof said elements engaging one of said cam surfaces, whereby uponrelative tilting movement between the spindle and a last mounted on thespindle said elements move along said cam surfaces outwardly from thepin to engage the inside walls of the thimble of the last.

3. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a rigid pin having a freeend and lateral recesses spaced from said free end, cam surfaces in therecesses, and pressure applying elements disposed in the recesses, eachof said elements engaging one of said cam surfaces, whereby upon tiltingof a last mounted on said spindle in one direction said elements movealong said cam surfaces outwardly from the pin in directions generallylaterally of the first direction to engage the inside walls of thethirnble of said last.

4. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a pin having lateralrecesses, cam surfaces in the recesses, pressure applying elementsdisposed in the recesses, each of said elements engaging one of the camsurfaces, and resilient rings retaining said elements in said recesses,whereby upon tilting of :a last mounted on a spindle in one directionsaid elements move along the cam surfaces and are thereby directedoutwardly from the pin to engage the inside walls of the thim ble ofsaid last.

5. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a pin having chordalrecesses, cam surfaces in the recesses, chordal elements disposed ineach of said recesses, said cam surfaces being disposed at acute anglesto the heeltoe axis of the spindle, each of said chordal elementsengaging one of said cam surfaces, whereby upon tilting of a last in avertical plane along the heel-toe axis of the last said chordal elementsare urged against the cam surfaces and thereby directed outwardly fromthe pin in directions generally laterally of the heel-toe axis to engagethe inside walls of the thimble of the last.

aseaaae 6. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising an up right pin,chordal recesses near the upper and lower ends of the pin, and chordalelements disposed in said recesses, said recesses having upright wallsforming cam surfaces, each of said chordal elements engaging one of saidcam surfaces, said carn surfaces being disposed at acute angles to theheel-toe axis of the spindle, the upper cam surfaces extending in adirection generally opposite to the direction in which extend the lowercam surfaces, whereby upon tilting of a last in a vertical plane alongthe heeltoe axis of the last said chordal elements are urged against thecam surfaces, the upper and lower chordal elements being urged ingenerally opposite directions along the heel-toe axis and directedoutwardly from the recesses in a direction generally transverse to theheeltoe axis to engage the inside walls of the thimble of the last.

7. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a pin having lateralrecesses, a pivot pin disposed in each recess, and a pressure applyingelement mounted for pivotal movement on each of said pivot pins, wherebyupon relative tiltin movement between the spindle and a last mounted onthe spindle said elements pivot about said pivot pins outwardly from therecesses to engage the inside walls of the thimble of said last.

8. A shoe last supporting spindle comprising a pin having lateralrecesses, a pivot pin disposed in each recess and a pressure applyingelement mounted for pivotal movement on each of said pivot pins, wherebyupon tilting of a last mounted on said spindle in one direction saidelements pivot about said pivot pins outwardly from the recesses indirections generally laterally of the first direction to engage theinside walls of the thimble of said last 9. A shoe last supporting meanscomprising a rigid spindle having a free end and lateral recesses spacedfrom said free end, pressure applying elements disposed in the recesses,means mounting said elements for movement laterally outwardly from therecesses, and means for tilting a last mounted on said spindle relativeto said spindle, whereby upon operation of said tilting means saidelements move outwardly from the recesses to engage the inside walls ofthe thimble of the last.

10. A shoe last supporting means comprising a rigid spindle having afree end and lateral recesses spaced from said free end, pressureapplying elements disposed in the recesses, means mounting said elementsfor movement lateraily outwardly from the recesses, and means fortilting a last mounted on the spindle, whereby upon tion, whereby uponoperation of said tilting means said elements each move outwardly fromthe recesses in a direction generally laterally of the first directionto engage the inside Walls of the thimble of said last.

11. A shoe last supporting means comprising a rigid spindle having afree end and lateral recesses spaced from said free end, cam surfaces inthe recesses, pressure applying elements disposed in the recesses, eachof said elements engaging one of the cam surfaces, and means for tiltinga last mounted on the spindle, whereby upon tilting of the last in onedirection said elements move along the cam surfaces outwardly from thespindle in directions generally laterally of the first direction toengage the inside walls of the thimble of the last.

12. A shoe last supporting means comprising a spindle having lateralrecesses, cam surfaces in the recesses, pressure applying elementsdisposed in the recesses, each of said elements engaging one of said camsurfaces, resilient rings retaining said elements in the recesses, andmeans for tilting a last along the heel-toe axis of the last, wherebyupon operation of the tilting means said elements move along the camsurfaces and are thereby directed outwardly from the spindle indirections generally laterally of the heel-toe axis to engage the insidewalls of the thimble of the last.

13. A shoe last supporting means comprising an upright spindle, chordalrecesses near the upper and lower ends of the spindle, chordal elementsdisposed in said recesses, said recesses having upright walls formingcam surfaces, each of said chordal elements engaging one of said camsurfaces, said cam surfaces being disposed at acute angles to theheel-toe axis of the spindle, the upper cam surfaces extending in adirection generally opposite to the direction in which extend the lowercam surfaces, and means for tilting a last mounted on the spindle in avertical plane along the heel-toe axis of the last, whereby uponoperation of said tilting means the upper and lower chordal elementsmove along the cam surfaces in generally opposite directions withreference to the heel-toe axis and are directed outwardly by the camsurfaces in directions generally laterally of the heeltoe axis to engagethe inside walls of the thimble of the last.

14. A shoe last supporting means comprising a spindle having lateralrecesses, a pivot pin disposed in each recess, a pressure applyingelement mounted for pivotal movement on each of said pivot pins, andmeans for tilting a last mounted on said spindle, whereby upon operationof the tilting means said last is tilted in one direction and saidelements pivot about their respective pivot pins outwardly from therecesses in directions generally laterally of the first direction toengage the inside walls of the thimble of the last.

15. A shoe last supporting means comprising a rigid upright spindlehaving a free end, lateral recesses near the free end of the spindle butspaced therefrom, upright walls in said recesses forming cam surfaces,pressure applying elements disposed in the recesses, each of saidelements engaging one of the cam surfaces, a toe rest, and means forelevating the toe rest to tilt a last mounted on the spindle, wherebyupon operation of said toe rest elevation means the elements are movedalong the cam surfaces and thereby directed outwardly from the pin toengage the inside walls of the thimble of the last,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,074 7/1890Pratt 12-127 1,436,065 11/1922 Tophan 12-127 2,083,897 6/1937 Drohau12-426 2,255,164 9/1941 Gross 12-126 PATRICK D. LAWSON, PrimaryExaminer.

Patent No 3 ,308 ,495

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION March 14, 1967Robert C. Simmonds,Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below Column 5,lines 49 and 50, "the spindle, whereby upon tion" should read saidspindle in one direction Signed and sealed this 16th day of December1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, 11'.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

1. A SHOE LAST SUPPORTING SPINDLE COMPRISING A RIGID PIN HAVING A FREEEND AND LATERAL RECESSES SPACED FROM SAID FREE END, MOVABLE PRESSUREAPPLYING ELEMENTS DISPOSED IN THE RECESSES, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAIDELEMENTS FOR MOVEMENT LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE RECESSES UPONPRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO SAID ELEMENTS IN A DIRECTION DIFFERENT FROMTHAT IN WHICH THEY MOVE OUTWARDLY.